The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-18
THE BOY OF AMSTERDAM

stories Of the present day What strikes
me most about them is the state Of mind
OF the hero or heroine. Ny reading shows
me that these individuals have the most
tender and questioning cOnsciences. No
matter how trivial their action, the char
acters Of our modern books are tortured
by the most severe searchings Of heart and
the grayest Of doubts as 10 the correctness
of whatever course il pleases them TO
pursue. Now, have 10 admit that ! am
not at all that kind Of person How ]
came 20 be projected into such an analyti-
cal world have been at a loss 20 imagine.
A thing always appears TO me to be right
or wrong and | take the one course or
the other as seems best at the moment,
and my conscience rarely bothers NE with
questions.
But this world is a world OF cCmpensa-
tons, and what a person misses in one
stage of life he frequently finds inanOthcr.
II my conscience doesn't question me my
little boy does. He more than makes up
for any deficiencies Of past life. He can
ask me more questions in a minute than
can answer in an hour.
lie has an Unsuitable desire for stories,
snd here Providence again steps in TO my
relief If he were like me, desiring a new
story every time, | would have been in
sane long ago. The imaginative power Of
Dickens would fall short Of the demand.
Fortunately, however, he is more than
satisfied with the same story repeated over
and over again; but he resents any alter
ations in the good old yarns. lie won't
have thirty-nine thieves, nor viii he put
up with forty-One Cinderellas slipper
l. 8 I
planned that a ruby slipper or an amber
one is much more expensive. he declines
TO accept it.
As he grows older am appalled, 20 find
that an occasional desire for fresh story
takes possession Of him. If plis mania
continues | fear that | shan have 20 de-
sert my family and seek refuge on some
desert island. As this country is full Of
little human interrogation points intend
now and then 70 print some Of my efforts
50 that other afflicted parents may ward
off for time the attacks Of ther too in
curing offspring, and if any one has any
thing new in the way Of blO0dthrsty
narratives suitable for children of tender
years, / would take 10 as a great Obligc-
ment if they would give me some hints
about them.
Papa, want a rev story this time.
'DO you really
eyes a real new one that nobody knows
about"
"Wen once there was man named
Ala Baba and he
"Oh, that's the Forty Thieves
ooh, you've heard that before have
yousn
Yes lots and lots Of times.
"Then there was once poor man who
lived in wood How does that strike
youY'
That's a good one"
"And he had seven sons
'Was one called Hop-o-my thumb
"You hit il the first time. Heard that
one"
That's an old, old one. ~
ooh, you want something recent
something fresh. Now | understand.
Well, about six months ago there was
fellow named Jack.
'Not the giant Killer
"Oh, no, that was several years ago.
This person was an agrculturist.
whats thatsn
"A farmer He had wonderful success
with his crops, too. Heplanted one single
bean, and in the night it grew so 49,
"Now, papa, that's mean. "
What The beam
''No, the story You know that's the
oldest one yet. | knew that one when
was baby
"What are you now
'I'm big now. Biggern that story.
"Then you want story made like your
clothes, bigger and bigger every time
Don't you think if ! let the tucks out of
some of the old stories they would fit?'
"No, they wouldn't"
"Then nothing will do but 4 complete
new suit Well, here goes.
"Surein
eyes, sure this time One September
day got into the city Of amsterdam '--
"Where's Amsterdam"
'In Holland"
"And where's HOllandT'
"Oh, round Amsterdam principally
"OhN Then pause. "Why do they
call it Hollands'
Because it is a hollow land. The LAID
r. lower than the sea-
"Then what keeps the sea outs'
ooh, il doesn't stay out all the time
Sometimes the Hollanders wake up and
find themselves floating all over the
roomn
'Isn't that nice''
''Well, they don't look on it that wa-.'
"What do they dO;n
"Oh, they get out Of bed ard dive for
their clothes-then go and pump the coun-
try out and 20 TO bed again. suppose
you don't care 10 hear the story
"Oh, yes Go on with the story
Dwell, as | was saying, was in
Amsterdam and | went TO see the hoop
mans Beurs. That's a nice name, isn't
ufn
eyes, what does it meany'
at is the exchange where people 90 to
buy and sen things"
sis there one in Detroit"
eyes. They call it the board Of trade
there
''Does il get under water;'
"Lots of folks get swamped in boards
Of trade in all parts of the world
'Was it full of water in AmsteTs when
you was there'"
'No. That wasn't the water day. II